Knockdown sectional shelving

ABSTRACT

Knockdown sectional shelving comprises a plurality of shelf units arranged one above the other and demountably interconnected and spaced by a plurality of connectors. Each of the shelf units comprises a horizontal shelf having a pair of vertical end pieces mounted, one on each end of the shelf and projecting above and below the same. One of the connectors is interposed between and bears against the end pieces of each adjacent pair of shelf units. Tongue and groove means demountably interconnect the end pieces and connectors. Where the end pieces are planar, the projections thereof constitute the tongues which cooperate with grooves on the connectors in interconnecting the two elements of the assembly. The shelving thus may be demountably assembled in various multiples and configurations to meet the requirements of contemplated end uses.

United States Patent [1 1 3,695,190

Bucholz [451 Oct. 3, 1972 [54] KNOCKDOWN SECTIONAL SHELVING 2,729,413 l/1956 Fetter ..287/20.92 'r [72] Inventor: Allan A. Bucholz, Gig Harbor,

Wash.

[73] Assignee: Monitor Cabinets, a Division of Comerco, lnc., Tacoma, Wash.

[22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 61,270

[52] U.S.Cl. ..108/91, l08/l11,2l1/l48 [51] lnt.Cl. ..A47b 45/00 [58] Field of Search..108/60, 91,101,114;2l1/l34,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 753,678 3/1904 Dannenberg ..108/91 2,490,269 12/1949 Johnson ..2l1/148 2,101,538 12/1937 Faber ..52/227 873,496 12/1907 Bryant ..211/148 1,684,966 9/1928 OConnor ..52/629 3,000,515 9/1961 Gifford ..2ll/153 3,234,896 2/1966 Bonsall ..312/111 3,549,020 12/1970 Bohr ..108/91 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Assistant Examiner-Darrell Marquette Attorney-Eugene D. Farley [57] ABSTRACT Knockdown sectional shelving comprises a plurality of shelf units arranged one above the other and demountably interconnected and spaced by a plurality of connectors. Each of the shelf units comprises a horizontal shelf having a pair of vertical end pieces mounted, one on each end of the shelf and projecting above and below the same. One of the connectors is interposed between and bears against the end pieces of each adjacent pair of shelf units. Tongue and groove means demountably interconnect the end pieces and connectors. Where the end pieces are planar, the projections thereof constitute the tongues which cooperate with grooves on the connectors in interconnecting the two elements of the assembly. The shelving thus may be demountably assembled in various multiples and configurations to meet the requirements of contemplated end uses.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures KNOCKDOWN SECTIONAL SHELVING This invention relates to knockdown sectional shelv- It is the general purpose of the invention to provide knockdown sectional shelving having the following functions and advantages:

1 Ease of assembly and disassembly.

2. Adaptability to arrangement in various multiples and configurations.

3. Adequate strength.

4. Adaptability for use in various furniture and structural items such as benches, stair steps, desks, etc.

5. Adaptability for manufacture as integral units from molded plastic.

6. Safe and secure when assembled, but still easily and quickly disassembled.

7. Attractive in appearance.

8. Easily and inexpensively mass produced.

The knockdown sectional shelving having the foregoing advantages and functions is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one of the shelving units illustrating its manner of assembly;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are transverse sectional views taken along lines 2--2 and 33 of FIG. 1, respectively;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of shelving constructed from the shelving units of FIG. 1 arranged in a typical use configuration;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, bottom perspective view of the shelving.

In its broad concept, the knockdown sectional shelving of my invention is comprised of individual shelf units arranged one above the other and demountably interconnected and spaced from each other by a plurality of connectors. Each shelf unit comprises a horizontal shelf member centrally mounting a pair of vertical end pieces, which project above and below the horizontal member. The connectors are arranged to space and support the shelf units, to which they are demountably interconnected by tongue and groove joints. Where the end pieces are flat, the projections form the tongues which interengage with cooperating grooves carried by the connectors. Key means then are associated with the tongue and groove connectors for preventing lateral displacement of the shelf units in their assembled condition.

Considering the foregoing in greater detail and with particular reference to the drawings:

The knockdown sectional shelving of the invention comprises a plurality of shelf units, indicated generally at 10, arranged one above the other and demountably interconnected and spaced by a plurality of connectors, indicated generally at 12. These two elements of the assembly may be fabricated from any suitable structural material such as wood, metal, or as in the illustrated form of the invention, molded plastic. It is a particular feature of the invention that the design of the shelving is such as to lend itself to fabrication by plastic molding techniques with attendant advantages.

Shelf unit basically comprises a flat, horizontal shelf 14 and a pair of end pieces 16 mounted, centrally of the end pieces, one on each end of the shelf. The end pieces thus project above and below the shelf in a manner which enables their double use not only as end pieces for the shelf but also as functional components assisting in assembling the shelf units.

Shelf 14 comprises a flat member arranged horizontally. Where it is made of plastic, it is formed with a stiffening system illustrated particularly in FIG. 2.

The stiffening system basically comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs on the underside of the shelf. These comprise a front rib 18, a pair of divided central ribs 20, and a rear rib 22. These may be spaced laterally from each other as required to meet the demands of the shelving, but in general run parallel to each other the entire length of shelf 14.

Rib 18 serves the ancillary but important function of providing a facing strip for the shelf, enhancing its appearance and concealing the ribs which lie behind.

Divided central ribs 20 inherently increase the stiffness and strength of the shelf. Additionally, they provide recesses in each of which may be housed a stiffening bar 24. This also may run the entire length of the shelf and may be fabricated from metal or other strong structural material. Its presence greatly increases the rigidity and strength of the shelf assembly. It is retained by tabs 26 extending laterally from the outer margin of one or the other of the component parts of rib 20. Cutaway portions 27 opposite the tabs facilitate molding, as well as application of the stiffener. The stiffener thus may be readily inserted in, and removed from, the recess as desirable or necessary.

Back rib 22 preferably is formed reversely to provide an upwardly projecting portion which serves as a backstop for the shelf. This assists in arranging books orother articles on the shelf, as well as preventing them from falling.

Great strength thus is achieved. Where the shelf is made of molded plastic having a thickness of the order of three-sixteenths inch, loads of up to pounds may be placed on the shelf without significant deflection.

End pieces 16 may be formed integrally with shelf 14. They are generally rectangular in outline, flat, and tapered in cross section to enhance their appearance, as well as their strength and ease of interfitting with the remainingelements of the assembly. The inner surfaces of their upper margins are formed with a plurality of vertical, laterally spaced, keyways 28. Preferably there are three such keyways, one in the middle of the end piece and another equi-distant therefrom on each side.

The lower margins of the end pieces are formed similarly with three keyways 28.

Connectors 12 serve the multiple functions of supporting the shelf units one above the other, of maintaining them in properly spaced relation, and of preventing their displacement in a horizontal plane.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 3, connectors 12 comprise a body portion 30 which may be slightly thicker than the thickness of end pieces 16. The connectors may have various shapes, but in the illustrated form of the invention are planar and generally rectangular in outline. The upper and lower ends of the connectors are formed with grooves 32. Each groove has a central vertical key 34.

In this manner there are provided in shelf unit 10 and connectors 12 integral tongue and groove means which enable interfitting these two elements to form any one of a number of appropriate groupings of shelves, as indicated in FIG. 4.

When assembling the shelving, the projecting ends of end pieces 16 of the shelf units are used as tongues which are inserted in grooves 32 of the connectors. During this insertion, keys 34 are inserted in selected ones of keyways 28. This gives the shelving units lateral stability.

It is to be noted that where there is one key and three spaced keyways, as in the illustrated embodiment, it is possible to position the connectors variously as required to meet certain design and utility requirements. Thus the connectors may be positioned centrally by inserting key 34 in the central one of keyways 28. In the alternative, it may be inserted in one or the other of the terminal keyways 28, thus offsetting the connector in the resultant assembly. Furthermore, the keying arrangement is symmetrical so that there are no lefts or rights to be considered when making the assembly.

It is a further important feature of the invention that the design of shelf units enables their use in various manners, both as shelving and as other units of fumiture, or furniture components.

Thus where the shelves and connectors are made of stout structural material such as wood or metal, eliminating the need for ribs 18, and 22, the shelf units per se may be used as benches or chairs. Altematively, the shelf units may be suspended individually by flexible hangers, one above the other, without employing connectors 12 and giving a different design effect. By the use of suitably arranged diagonal end supports and bannisters, the shelf units may be used as the step components of stairways. Still further, the assemblies including both the shelf units and connectors may be used to construct shelving components of desks. Interesting multiple application of the products thus are achieved.

Having thus described my invention in preferred embodiments, I claim:

1. Knockdown sectional shelving comprising a. a plurality of shelf units arranged one above the other and demountably interconnected and spaced by a plurality of connectors,

b. each shelf unit comprising 1. a horizontal shelf and 1 2. a pair of vertical end members mounted, centrally of the end members, one on each end of the shelf and projecting above and below the same, each end member having substantially straight upper and lower edges,

c. each connector comprising 1. a body member having substantially straight upper and lower edges interposed between and bearing against the end members of an adjacent pair of shelf units,

0. each connector comprising 1. a body member having substantially straight upper and lower edges interposed between and bearing against the end members of an adjacent pair of shelf units,

d. The upper and lower edges of one of the end and body members constituting tongues,

e. the upper and lower edges of the other of the end and body members having grooves extending their full length for removably receiving said tongues, and e f. a vertical key in one of each associated tongue and groove, and a plurality of later lly spaced eyways in the other 0 each associate tongue an groove for selective removable reception of the associated key, whereby to secure the associated end and body members together in predetermined relative lateral positions.

2. Knockdown sectional shelving comprising a. a plurality of shelf units arranged one above the other and demountably interconnected and spaced by a plurality of connectors,

b. each shelf unit comprising 1. a horizontal shelf and 2. a pair of vertical end members mounted, centrally of the end members, one on each end of the shelf and projecting above and below the same, each end member having substantially straight upper and lower edges,

c. each connector comprising 1. a body member having substantially straight upper and lower edges interposed between the bearing against the end members of an adjacent pair of shelf units,

d. the upper and lower edges of one of the end and body members constituting tongues,

e. the upper and lower edges of the other of the end and body members having grooves extending their full length for removably receiving said tongues,

f. a vertical key and keyway one on one surface of each tongue and the other on the facing surface of the associated groove arranged for removable interconnection for securing the associated end and body members together against relative lateral dis placement,

g. a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, longitudinal structural ribs on the underside of each shelf forming an elongated recess therebetween,

h. an elongated, stifi' structural member received removably in the recess with its inner edge bearing against the underside of the shelf, and

i. tab means extending laterally from the outer margin of one of the ribs toward the other rib and retractably intercepting the outer edge of the stiff structural member for removably retaining the latter in said recess in bearing engagement with the underside of the shelf. 

1. Knockdown sectional shelving comprising a. a plurality of shelf units arranged one above the other and demountably interconnected and spaced by a plurality of connectors, b. each shelf unit comprising
 1. a horizontal shelf and
 2. a pair of vertical end members mounted, centrally of the end members, one on each end of the shelf and projecting above and below the same, each end member having substantially straight upper and lower edges, c. each connector comprising
 1. a body member having substantially straight upper and lower edges interposed between and bearing against the end members of an adjacent pair of shelf units, c. each connector comprising
 1. a body member having substantially straight upper and lower edges interposed between and bearing against the end members of an adjacent pair of shelf units, d. The upper and lower edges of one of the end and body members constituting tongues, e. the upper and lower edges of the other of the end and body members having grooves extending their full length for removably receiving said tongues, and f. a vertical key in one of each associated tongue and groove, and a plurality of laterally spaced keyways in the other of each associated tongue and groove for selective removable reception of the associated key, whereby to secure the associated end and body members together in predetermined relative lateral positions.
 2. a pair of vertical end members mounted, centrally of the end members, one on each end of the shelf and projecting above and below the same, each end member having substantially straight upper and lower edges, c. each connector comprising
 2. Knockdown sectional shelving comprising a. a plurality of shelf units arranged one above the other and demountably interconnected and spaced by a plurality of connectors, b. each shelf unit comprising
 2. a pair of vertical end members mounted, centrally of the end members, one on each end of the shelf and projecting above and below the same, each end member having substantially straight upper and lower edges, c. each connector comprising 